Bundesliga basics: 1. FC Köln

Fun facts

Köln were the very first winners of the Bundesliga in 1963/64.

Köln conceded just 42 goals in 2015/16. Only the top three of FC Bayern München, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen conceded fewer.

The club's nickname Die Geißböcke (the Billy Goats) refers to the club's mascot, a male goat named Hennes after former player Hennes Weißweiler, and dates back to 1950, when a circus presented them with a goat as a carnival joke.

Köln's living mascot Hennes never misses a game for the Billy Goats.

History

Köln have had a chequered history since becoming the first ever Bundesliga champions in 1964, having dropped down to the second flight no fewer than five times over the decades - most recently in 2011/12. After returning to Germany's top table in 2014, they comfortably held their own in their first season back in the big time, going on to secure a 12th-place finish.

Anthony Modeste's (l.) goals played a big part in Köln's 2015/16 success.

They went three better last season, with Anthony Modeste's 15 Bundesliga goals helping them to finish ninth, seven points off a European place.